Katherine Region

While its star attraction is undoubtedly the famous Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, Katherine and its surrounds include great fishing, hidden natural wonders and a rich indigenous and pioneering history. The region stretches from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the West Australia border. Around 300 kilometres south of Darwin, Katherine is set on the banks of the Katherine River.

Must do:• Relax by the natural spring-fed crystal clear pool of the Katherine Hot Springs set in picturesque surroundings• Visit Cutta Cutta Caves located 30 kilometres south of Katherine, the cave is a series of limestone caverns dating back 500 million years featuring sparkling columns, pillars and flowstones of calcite crystal• Take a cruise or canoe along the magnificent Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, and be dwarfed by the towering glowing cliffs of the gorge• Explore the ancient rock art, crafts and culture of Katherine – an important meeting place for indigenous people for many thousands of years.

Katherine was named by explorer John McDouall Stuart in the late 1800s after the daughter of one of his expedition sponsors, and the gorge was renamed ‘Nitmiluk’ – meaning ‘cicada place’ – in 1989 when traditional owners, the Jawoyn Aboriginal people, gained title to the land, which is now Nitmiluk National Park.

The Katherine River flows through 13 separate gorges that carve their way through the Arnhem Land plateau. You can canoe, cruise and swim between sheer cliffs to the sandy freshwater beaches of the main gorges, and view ancient Aboriginal rock paintings high on the rock faces. Waterfalls and rock pools are found along more than 100 kilometres of walking tracks, beginning at the park’s visitor centre.

Katherine offers a wide range of accommodation, facilities and attractions, including museums, art galleries, character-filled pubs and historic sites. It is also home to the Tindal RAAF Base. Although the airfield was constructed in 1942, it is the Air Force’s youngest operational base and one of Australia’s most important defence installations.